Handcuffing is a Dangerous Business
PATH® "Practical and Tactical Handcuffing" course presented by Erik Vasquez is the most comprehensive and ground-breaking handcuffing course for Security Professionals, First Responders and Public Safety. Since before the 1960’s officers have experimented with different handcuffing techniques. Unfortunately death and injuries to officers was the result. In the 1990’s, handcuffing in the free standing and prone positions gained acceptance. Prone positions with proper armlocks seem to be the safest for officers.
Trial and Error Lessons
•Transporting subjects who are under arrest without handcuffs is unacceptable. The youngest person to kill an officer was 7, the oldest was 97.
•Searching prior to handcuffing is a dangerous practice.
•Placing a subject’s hands against a wall, car or similar object increases their stability.
•The wall or kneeling positions are more dangerous to the officer than the free standing or prone positions.
•Trying to handcuff a subject before the officer has control can be dangerous or disastrous for the officer.
•Once one handcuff is applied and the officer faces an equal or greater strength struggle, the officer should disengage and go to another force option.
•An officer who is down with a subject who is not in control faces a high danger of injury.
•Two officers handcuffing one subject instead of using the contact-cover concept increases the danger of injury to both officers.
•Entering into a subject’s four foot zone must be done properly due to the officer’s decreased ability to react. Action beats reaction within the reactionary gap.
•Officers can be pulled off balance, attacked and disarmed during the handcuffing process. Positioning and balance are crucial.
•Criminals train to subdue officers from the wall, kneeling and spread leg positions.
•Over 60% of resistance is encountered after the first cuff is applied.
•Officers should be able to cuff both hands in less than 2 seconds. Over 70% of people arrested are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and are 2-3 seconds behind reality.
•Handcuffs do not immobilize. Subjects can kick, strike, head butt, break handcuffs, disarm, and shoot officers with their own weapons.
•Wrists are oval and so are handcuffs. Handcuffs have to be applied from the ulna or radial side of the wrist. If applied from the top or the bottom of the wrist, skin can get caught in the teeth, causing aggression.
Advantages of Hinged Handcuffs
•Hinged handcuffs are not as dangerous a weapon to the officer after the first cuff is applied.
•Hinged handcuffs usually accommodate a larger wrist.
•On an extra small person one cuff can go around both wrists.
•It is more difficult for the subject to pick the lock.
•Hinged handcuffs are generally stronger.
•Hinged handcuffs are a more efficient take-down tool.
•Hinged handcuffs are harder to step through using the cross arm method.
•There is greater control when transporting because the officer can control both wrists from the center of the cuffs.
•There is less chance for the hands to go numb while transporting due to the cross arm method.
•The jaw of one cuff cannot be worked into the jaw of the other cuff to pry the cuffs open.
•The swivel of one cuff or a seatbelt cannot be worked into the swivel of the other cuff to pry the cuffs apart.
•The cross arm method usually prevents the subject from reaching into a front pocket to remove a weapon or contraband.
•Hinged handcuffs are quicker to apply.Free Standing Position
•Most athletes and martial artists use a straddle leg or horse stance for stability and strength.
•This is a strong stance, therefore, officers should not position a subject in this stance for han
•This stance may be derived from the old wall technique in which officers thought they could kick out the subject’s legs if needed.
General Handcuffing Guidelines
•Immobilize•Control•Handcuff•Search•Transport•Carry handcuffs so they are easily accessible with either hand•Carry two keys.•All persons in custody should be considered dangerous.•Handcuffs should be properly loaded.•Always cuff behind the back.•Always double lock the handcuffs.•Search after applying the handcuffs.•Never handcuff a person to yourself, a fixed object or a vehicle.•Habit is the key to success.•Handcuffs do not immobilize.•Use the free standing or prone positions.•Handcuffs should be applied to anyone who is under arrest.•Disengage when you face a struggle of equal or greater strength.•Handcuff as quickly as possible.•Handcuff only after you have control.•Handcuff from the radial or ulna side of the wrist.Resistance
•Most resistance occurs after the first handcuff is applied.
•Most resistance occurs after the first handcuff is applied.People under the influence of alcohol are 2-3 seconds behind reality.
•Alcohol related studies include:–The Rochester New York P.D. finds over 70% of persons who resisted were under the influence of alcohol.–The Orlando Florida P.D. finds results identical to Rochester P.D.–The Missouri Highway Patrol finds over 80% of persons who resisted were under the influence of alcohol.
Problems with the Wall Handcuffing Technique•By placing the subject against the wall, we increase his or her stability by anchoring all four limbs.
•Action beats reaction within the reactionary gap. The subject could attack the officer before the officer could react by:–grabbing the officer’s leg,
–elbowing the officer in the face,
–pulling the officer forward,
–or kicking the officer.
•Position the Subject Verbally–Stay outside the reactionary gap–Use normal tone, volume and rate of speech–Feet slightly apart–Hands behind the back•Positioning of the Officer–Approach from the 21/2 position–Vital line and gun away from subject–Body in a defensive position–Understand the reactionary gap concept–Within 4 feet an action beats a reaction•Handcuffing Procedure–Handcuffs in the strong hand, butterflied, palms down, single bars toward the subject’s spine.–Carefully enter the four foot zone.–With your free hand grasp the subject’s hand that mirrors your strong hand. Thumb over thumb and fingers over fingers.–Place the single bar of the top cuff against the ulna side of the wrist.–The cuff should be at a 90° angle to the wrist.–Simultaneously push the cuff against the wrist while pulling the wrist into the cuff with the support hand.–If the single bar engages the cuff, do not tighten.–If the single bar does not engage the cuff, use the index finger of the strong hand or palm of the support hand to engage the single bar.–Simultaneously turn your strong hand palm up while grasping the subject’s free hand with your support hand. Thumb over thumb and fingers over fingers.–Place the single bar of the free cuff against the radial side of the wrist by pulling the subject’s free hand toward the cuff.–The cuff should be at a 90° angle to the wrist.–Cuff the wrist by pulling the free hand into the cuff.–If the single bar engages the cuff, tighten both cuffs.–If the single bar does not engage, use the index finger of your support hand to close the cuff.–Tighten both cuffs and double lock. The little finger should fit between the cuff and the wrist.–For large persons cuff at belt level or lower, or have them lean back.–If using hinged cuffs, the hands should be in a cross arm position.–Running the subject’s belt between the cuffs will increase security.–Both hands should be cuffed in 2 seconds or less from the time of first contact.–If the subject resists, take him or her to a prone control position before handcuffing.For more information for this Training Course please refer to the online training application.
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